DIY Solar Power

There are many reasons choosing solar power for home energy needs makes good sense.

Firstly there are of course the large number of environmental benefits that solar power provides. As I’m sure you are aware, solar energy is energy which is given off by the suns radiation and as such is a natural renewable source of energy. Solar also is a very clean form of electricity, unlike traditional coal and gas fuels, the production and use of solar energy doesn’t result in environmentally harmful emissions and by-products being given off.

Another often overlooked environmentally helpful aspect of this form of energy is, as we use it more and more it replaces the traditional environmentally harmful sources, which as a result lessens the impact on the earth and gives it space to recover.

Secondly and perhaps the biggest selling point of solar power, given the economic times we find ourselves in, is it can save you a lot of money.

Solar energy is free energy. Once you have your unit installed the energy you reap is yours, free to use as you will. This not only allows for greater flexibility in how much power you use, but it will save you a lot of money, which is always a good thing no matter what your financial circumstance.

Perhaps the one major drawback of changing to solar power for home energy needs is that currently having a retail system installed is extremely expensive, governments are trying to address this issue by providing incentives in the form of rebates (check your local government for details). This however should not prevent us from taking up solar energy, there are a number of great how to do it yourself solar power guides available (see the following link for a review of the most popular how to do it yourself solar power guides – How to Do it Yourself Solar Power Guide Review) which show you how you can simply assemble your own professional quality solar panels for around a couple of hundred dollars.

It really does make sense, unfortunately our governments seem to be dragging their feet on this issue, maybe it will be up to our kids to don t-shirts that read “solar power for home, for life!” or perhaps our generation can stand up, take responsibility and lead the way by implementing our own solar energy solutions.

Become a leader of the current generation and check out more about Solar power for Home usage and read the latest reviews on  how to do it yourself solar power guides

Perhaps undertaking a total diy solar power homemade energy solution is not quite your thing or perhaps you would like to start with a smaller project first? Well while diy solar power kits are extremely easy to assemble and build, even easier is building your own solar hot water heaters.

Heating your hot water unit with mains electricity is an expensive process, on the other hand if you get the energy you need to heat the unit’s hot water from the sun it would cost you nothing.

It’s estimated around 33% of a households energy expenditure goes toward heating your hot water system! Wouldn’t be nice to save that money and be free to spend it elsewhere?

DIY (do it yourself) solar hot water systems can be built for as little as $100! This is an expense you will recover in no time, compare that to a thousand dollars or more for a prefabricated system.

Having been a solar energy consultant for some of the biggest firms on the planet, I can confirm these solar systems work effectively and efficiently, when you add this to the fact that solar energy is a clean renewable form of energy that will help lessen the damaging impact we are having on the environment then Im sure you will agree it’s a no brainer.

For just $37  you can instantly get access to and download a 70 page instruction manual in pdf format that will guide you step by step through the process of building your own solar hot water heaters.

So if the whole idea of building a house wide system scares you or you would like to get your toe in the water with diy solar power projects, then the solar hot water heaters project is just thing for you. To learn more [Click Here]

If your ready to take the next step or are looking for a total diy solution, check out the following review for some great information you must read. DIY Solar Energy kits reviewed.

Upgrade your thermostat

Programmable thermostats are one of the easiest and cheapest ways to save money. Have one installed and program it to cool or heat the house 30 to 60 minutes before the first family member wakes up. During the day, set the unit 7 or 8 degrees higher or lower than you normally do and have it set to heat/heat the house right before you get home.

Check for leaks.

Check for windows and air duct leaks intermittently through which cold or warm air can escape. Leaks force your air conditioner or heater to work harder which translates into higher energy costs. Having your house correctly insulated means you’re able to save as much as 10% on your power bills.

Unplug appliances.

Did you know any appliance that is plugged in is using energy even if the appliance is turned off? Appliances that also have clocks are an additional drain. Standby lights, like those on your TV, are also draining energy, so unplug as many appliances as you can when not in use.

New light bulb technology.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs need 75% less energy and last 10 times lengthier compared to standard incandescent light bulbs. While compact fluorescents do cost more up front, they savings they supply long term are worth the first investment. You may also be saving time and making less waste by changing your light bulbs more infrequently.

Shop “green.”

Look for the Energy Star label when shopping for new appliances. Energy Star is a joint program between the US EPA and Department of Energy that identifies and labels energy-efficient appliances. Currently appliances in 44 products categories have been identified and labeled.

There’s probably no need to tell you of the importance of using renewable energy sources. If people knew a little more about clean, renewable energy sources we’d demand it from our energy suppliers and we could all breathe a little easier. When we don’t pay attention to how our energy is produced, we continue to meet our needs for energy through unhealthy means which harm our environment and our bodies.

It is vital to make sure that we, as the adults, are not only learning about renewable energy but that our future generations are learning about it as well. Before you even get to the point of wondering how much electricity the wind generators produce, it is import to learn a little bit about how they work in the first place.

One thing which people worry about in connection to the use of power is failing to understand how the technology works. They may fear that in the absence of a steady wind, the turbines used will not generate power. However, it takes only the lightest breeze to produce electricity. The kinetic energy of the wind is converted into electricity and can be used to meet the energy needs of homes and businesses.

A wind generator will work best when installed on the roof of the building, as this allows it to catch more wind energy. However, it may be a good idea to have a backup supply of electrical power, so you may not want to call your local utility to disconnect just yet.

If you’re not able to get enough wind power to handle your usage, this will provide you with a failsafe system to meet your electricity needs. When there is a lot of wind to use (for instance, anytime that there are winds of more than 7 mph), then you may even be able to sell the unused energy you generate to your local utility company.

Wind power can indeed generate enough electricity for your household’s needs. If not, there is still the electrical supply from your utility company and you can either sell the surplus electricity you generate or if you have batteries for this purpose, store the extra energy for use later on.

Being able to sell this energy to the power company is a way that you will be able to earn back the money you put into installing the wind generators to begin with. The exact amount of energy that a person can expect from the use of their wind generator will simply depend on the size of generator they are using.

In an area with 12mph average wind speed, a 10kw wind generator can produce around 10,000kw annually. This is enough to meet the energy needs of the typical home. A 5-MW wind turbine, by contrast can produce upwards of 15 million kw in a year – enough to power 14,000 homes!